Edith Cowan University filmmaking students and graduates from The WA Screen Academy, the Film and Video program and WAAPA are celebrating after receiving 20 nominations in the WA Screen Awards. The WA Screen Awards is the premier event for emerging filmmakers in Western Australia, and will be held at the Octagon Theatre, Perth on Saturday, 21 March.

Six films produced by Screen Academy students in 2008 have been nominated in what organisers are describing as the most outstanding round of entries to date. Ace Neally was nominated for Best Tertiary Film, and The People’s Plot earned a Best Cinematography nomination for Screen Academy students Sarah Clarke and Mikael Bones Olsen. Screen Academy student Palko Juhas is nominated for Best Sound for his work in the film Commodity Fetish. Acting students from the WA Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) were also well represented with TJ Power nominated for Best Actor in Iris and Best Actress nominations for Elise Jansen’s role in Misconception and Alexandra Fisher in Spirited.

The Director’s Cut, a low budget horror comedy feature by Screen Academy graduate Paul Komadina received six nominations including Best Film and Best Director. Screen Academy graduate Damien Spiccia received three nominations for his film The Deep End which was funded through the ScreenWest - Film and Television Institute Link initiative. Fellow graduate Robbie Studsor was nominated in the Screenwriting category for The Making of A Dead Guy, a hilarious and stinging satire which he made as his Honours project. John Rapsey, Director of the WA Screen Academy and Head of Scriptwriting at ECU, is delighted by both the number and breadth of the nominations. “ECU filmmakers have received nominations in nearly every category, reflecting the high standards that are being set in ECU Screen programs. Nominations were earned by our students at every level – undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate."John Rapsey said, “I congratulate all of the nominees and wish them good luck at the WA Screen Awards.”

The inaugural Lotterywest Award for Outstanding Production for a film or television production that reached Australian screens in the calendar year 2008, was awarded to the television series ‘Who Do You Think You Are?’, produced by Celia Tait of Artemis International with Serendipity Productions.

“Since its release, ‘Who Do You Think You Are?’ has received strong acclaim from viewers across the country. With a very impressive online media presence and high profile subjects, the series was a ratings hit for SBS. The first episode secured the largest audience share for an Australian production for SBS ever - an enormous achievement,” the Minister said.

The Young Filmmaker of the Year - presented to a filmmaker aged 25 years or younger - was awarded to Antony Webb. “Graduating from Curtin University of Technology in 2002 with a passion for cinematography, Antony has worked on a number of short films as a producer, editor, cinematographer and writer. His projects have had widespread festival success; a testament to his dedication to produce a high standard of work,” Mr Day said. “Antony co-produced his first feature film, ‘The Actress’, in 2004. Shot for only $700, ‘The Actress’ has screened at 12 international film festivals including Slamdance, Methodfest and the Melbourne Underground Film Festival. In 2007, the film earned a DVD distribution deal and is now available in Australia and New Zealand.”

Broadcasting industry stalwart Kevin Campbell was recognised for his long-standing contribution and awarded the Lotterywest Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Industry. “For 35 years, Kevin has tirelessly worked in and supported the screen industry,” the Minister said. “From 1988 to 1991, he was managing director of the national Seven Television Network and from 1991 to 1999 he was chairman and managing director of TVW Enterprises Ltd (Channel Seven Perth). “His involvement with the broader industry includes being a past board member and chairman of ScreenWest, chairman of the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, chair of Lotterywest and a member of Edith Cowan University Council. “In 1998, Kevin was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for his contribution to broadcasting, business and community service activities. “Kevin has left an indelible mark on the local and wider screen industry.”

‘The Fabulous Flag Sisters’, a documentary produced by Mago Films for SBS and Fox Italy, won four Lotterywest Awards for Excellence in Craft in the categories of Cinematography, Editing, Directing and Documentary Production.

In the Early Careers Categories, practitioners on the short-film ‘Tinglewood’ won four awards: Best Visual Effects, Sound, Actor and the People’s Choice Award.

Hosted by the Film and Television Institute, CEO Graeme Sward said the Western Australian Screen Awards have grown alongside the screen industry. “Over the last few years the State has seen a strong growth in screen production and the high quality of entries for the screen awards, across all categories, indicates a very positive outlook for the future of the local industry,” Mr Sward said.